This document summarizes the causes and consequences of racial prejudice. It discusses how white privilege permeates all aspects of life for white Americans and how attempting to be colorblind can distort the reality of racism. It also outlines the negative psychological and emotional consequences of racism for both white and black people, such as anxiety, guilt, and defensiveness in whites and depression, low self-esteem, and health issues in blacks. The document also describes how prolonged exposure to racism can lead to alienation from oneself and others according to Fanon's aspects of alienation, as well as Utsey, Bolden, and Brown's six racism-related reactions like race-related trauma and fatigue.

1. Causes & Consequences of
Racial Prejudice
Chapter 3 of Preventing Prejudice: A
Guide for Counselors, Educators and
Parents (Ponterotto, Utsey & Pedersen,
2006)

2. Racism and White Americans
• White Privilege
– Unearned entitlements
– Conferred dominance
– Permeates all aspects of life
Colorblind Racial Attitudes: an attempt to distort the
reality of racism in the lives of non-Whites but the
complexity of it allows for anyone to adopt it.

3. Racism and White Americans con’t
• A person internalizes race-related messages in
the context of what society and the developing
ego allows. (Kovel, 1970)
• Anxiety and racial intolerance are interrelated
• Racial prejudice:
- defensive efforts of ego and superego.
-ego strengthening experience.
-protection from identity loss.
• Negative consequences: psychological/emotional
distress (guilt, shame, anxiety, confusion….)

4. Racism and the Black Experience
• Mechanisms:
– White Supremacy
– Oppression
– Racism

5. Negative Consequences of Racism for Blacks
• Psychological Stresses:
– Depression
– Low self-esteem
– Hostility
– Feelings of helplessness, loss, fear, resentment
• Physiological Stresses:
- Increased blood pressure
- substance abuse
- heart issues

6. Prolonged Exposure to Racism
• Fanon’s (1963) 5 Aspects of Alienation:
– Alienation from self
– Alienation from significant others
– Alienation from others in general
– Alienation from culture and history
– Alienation from social praxis

7. Acute Racism Reactions
• Utsey, Bolden, & Brown’s(2001)-
6 Racism-Related Reactions:
– Race-Related Trauma
– Racism-Related Fatigue
– Anticipatory Racism Reaction
– Race-Related Stress & Distress
– Racism-Related Frustration
– Racism-Related Confusion

8. Article
• White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible
Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh
• Discussion of article